Album of the Week: Thelittlesorryselfyouare

Thelittlesorryselfyouare
Thelittlesorryselfyouare EP
Self-Released
Myspace

By some standards, Thelittlesorryselfyouare's five-track, forty minute debut EP is nothing out of the ordinary within the contemporary experimental scene. As a quintet from Belgium, Thelittlesorryselfyouare is comprised of two guitarists, a bassist, keyboardist, and a drummer. The music itself, while at no stretch boring or tired, utilizes fairly typical post-rock techniques: melodic, crescendo-heavy pieces are elegantly crafted through the use of fluttering tremolo and moments of heavy guitar distortion. Undoubtedly, Thelittlesorryselfyouare respect and indeed draw from their influences on a number of occasions, but unlike many other young artists, distinguish themselves through a palpable sense of passion and intensity. Thelittlesorryselfyouare present a somewhat raw cohesion of atmospheric, textural guitar work and windy song structures, commonly delving into moments of contrasting delicacy and wall of sound schematics. "Designedly Dissolved into Nothingless," the EP's standout track, creates an intriguing, melancholic atmosphere that merges into a distortion-rich crescendo format. On display here, and within the EP in general, is a unique feeling of unbridled emotion and creativity. The band seemingly play less for the creation of a monumental, ground-breaking work than they do for the concept of "art for art's sake": Thelittlesorryselfyouare craft music that is ultimately an expression of their collective sentiment, unrestrained by an overbearing sense of importance or weight. Instead, Thelittlesorryselfyouare concentrate on shifting environments through texture, eager to portray dramatic soundscapes and images. However, the band's relative youth and the overall raw nature of their music does hinder the EP in a few regards. The songs presented on the EP all follow a common pattern, and while at some points the lengthy compositions are effective, other moments tend to drag as a result of unnecessary interludes and overly-drawn out crescendos. Ultimately, the band would benefit from the inclusion of more compact compositions, such as opener "Do," alongside lengthier, decidedly epic pieces ("Pynar and His Backseat Problems"). That being said, Thelittlesorryselfyouare are without doubt a group to keep an eye on in the future. The band are certainly on the right path with their debut EP, which remains one of the highlights of the European post-rock scene this year.

Album of the Week: Pooma

Pooma
Persuader
Next Big Thing
Myspace

On Persuader, Helsinki-based quintet Pooma have produced one of the standout full-lengths of the year, continuing the now commonplace trend of spectacular releases from Scandinavian bands. The fact that Persuader is Pooma's debut offering, however, marks the band as anything but typical. The level of creativity and musicianship presented throughout the course of the album's 50 minutes are in fact the product of two years of adjustments and fine-tuning, ultimately lending to the solid and overall polished feel of Persuader. While Pooma do draw from a number of diverse influences, their sound comes off as original and unforced; the primary success being the band's creation of a distinct signature of dark atmospheric textures laced with ethereal vocals and intriguing rhythms. This unique template of sorts is then applied over more palpable elements from a number of sources, ranging from the trip-hop inspired "They Won't Come Back" to the cinematic, almost post-rock like compositions of "The Shore" and "All Worked Out". The majority of tracks follow a middle-ground, seamlessly blending down-tempo melancholic moments with portions rich in fuzz and distortion. Nowhere else is this style utilized more effectively than on album-standout "Snow." On possibly the paramount track released this year, Pooma construct a wall-of-sound framework utilized by so many contemporary bands, the difference here being Pooma's perfection of the craft. Ambient passages naturally slip into intense, noisy swells anchored by soaring vocals, all the while centered around the band's exceptional sense of melody. Indeed, the album as a whole casts a large shadow on most other bands attempting to merge tradtional rock with more experimental tendencies. In the future, the band will undoubtedly look to expand and develop their sound, an intimidating thought given the already-refined talent demonstrated on Persuader.

Upcoming Releases: Winter 2007

In hindsight, the past month has proven to be one of the most prolific periods of the year in terms of experimental releases; eight of the current Top 30 alone were released sometime during the month of October. However, both November and December are shaping up to be equally salient in their own right, with key albums expected in genres ranging from electronic dream-pop (Arms and Sleepers, TLS) to epic post-rock (Cecilia::Eyes) to experimental screamo (Envy). Either way, the following list marks a strong conclusion to the year of 2007.

Adolf Plays the Jazz- Day 4/Urban Fiction (Self-Released)

Arms and Sleepers- Black Paris 86 (Expect Candy)

Astral- Sleepwalker (Vibraphone)

Atlantis- Carpe Omnium (Field Records)

Cecilia::Eyes- Mountain Tops Are Sometimes Closer to the Moon (dEPOT214)

Colour- Heaven (Grey Records)

Envy- Abyssal (Rock Action)

Halcyon High- To Be Infinite (Vibraphone)

Hologram- Hologram+ (n5MD)

I Am David Sparkle- This Is The New (Kitty Wu)

Kerosene Daydream- Oscillate (Self-Released)

Sidewaytown- Years In the Wall (Self-Released)

TLS- A Song Left For You (Imperial)

The Winchester Club- Britannia Triumphant (WHI Recordings)


Additionally, upcoming reviews will be posted within the week and include the new full lengths from Pooma and Followed By Ghosts among others.

Album of the Week: Tender Souvenirs

Tender Souvenirs
Scars & Souvenirs
Airwaves Music
Myspace

On their debut release, Tender Souvenirs (formerly Ever the Statesman) introduce the listener to their unique brand of swirling, trumpet-infused, multi-layered post-rock. In a year where the standard full-length fails to reach past 45 minutes in length, Scars & Souvenirs gracefully extends itself for nearly an hour; atypical of most contemporary post-rock bands, let alone groups new to the scene. In any case, the lengthy duration of the album acts as an outward indication of the music Tender Souvenirs strives to create. Each of the seven songs featured here twist and elegantly transform from quiet opening melodies to reverb-laden walls of guitar noise. Integral to the band's compositions are the use of frontman Martin Sassner's vocals and trumpet-playing, both of which are incorporated in a half-fuzzy/ half-dreamy style that works particularly well throughout the winding, tendril-like song structures. The underlying component to all of this, however, is Tender Souvenirs' skill in layering: the songs themselves are presented as one massive and synchronized crescendo, with each additional layer adding to the dramatic and intrinsically cinematic mood of the album. In specific, songs like "Emergency Broadcast System" and album closer "Safe Hands" stand out in their execution of this theme. Overall, Scars & Souvenirs represents an exceptional debut, and certainly provides a solid foundation for the band to build and evolve around. With any luck, Tender Souvenirs should shortly become a household name in the post-rock and Swedish indie arenas alike.

Albums of the Week: Overlooked Albums of Summer 2007

Here are this week's highlighted releases, representing a brief synopsis of important albums released in the summer months. Ultimately, despite the relative lack of hype surrounding each release, these albums are likely candidates to end up on many worthy end-of-year lists, Neosurrealist's included. Music samples from each artist will be updated within the week on the Neosurrealist Playlist; for now, songs can be heard from the respective myspace pages.

A Place to Bury Strangers- S/T (Killer Pimp)

Containing seven tracks from the band's unreleased CD-R demo and three brand new songs, A Place to Bury Strangers' debut marks the starting point of what is sure to become a new trend in the post-shoegaze revival. Mixing traces of post-punk with rapid drum machine beats and classic shoegaze noise, A Place to Bury Strangers earn their title as "New York's loudest band," and then some. An essential 2007 album for any true shoegaze fan.

Alcest- Souvenirs d'un autre Monde (Profound Lore)

An intriguing hybrid album coming from Avignon, France. Admittedly more shoegaze than metal, Souvenirs d'un autre Monde nonetheless skillfully integrates elements of Alcest's heavier past with a dreamier, more elegant sound. Whatever your opinion of its classification, this album remains one of the standout full-lengths of the year.

Capguns- Day (Self-Released)

To give you an indication on the type of music Capguns makes, the North Wales quintet cite Cult of Luna, My Bloody Valentine, and Sigur Ros as primary influences. Their debut EP runs thirty minutes in length while containing only four tracks, comprised of titles such as "Drawn to the Horizon" and "Like Waves." However, the music on Day is anything but cliche, melding equal parts post-rock and scream-infused metal in presenting an excellent self-introduction.

Genaro- Genaro (Benbecula)

From electronica heavyweights Benbecula Records comes the debut album from Scottish shoegaze-pop quartet Genaro. Dark textures and melodies rise to the front here, and while Genaro does occaisionally utilize reverb and distortion, such techniques are often nothing more than restrained support for Craig Snape's rich vocal range. While 2007 has seen many debut releases indicating a promising future, Genaro marks the arrival of a legitimate post-pop powerhouse.

Holler, Wild Rose!- Our Little Hymnal (Backlight)

Our Little Hymnal might be the single most difficult 2007 record to describe, primarily because of the broad range of influences that the band draws from and seemlessly integrates into their sound. The end result, however, is a succesful product of psychedelia, post-rock, and more conventional rock structures; rather than sounding muddied or forced, Our Little Hymnal represents a sound unique in itself. If pressed, Holler, Wild Rose could be compared to something like Jeff Buckley fronting a neo-psychedelic/shoegaze band covering Sigur Ros' Agaetis Byrjun.

Pozvakowski- Microtron (PopKontroll)

Microtron picks up where 2004's Transistor left off, merging dynamic and jazz-like structures with moments of post-metal brutality. The contrast here is unaided by crescendos, and instead Pozvakowski opts for sudden rythmic pulses and the occasional use of voice samples to provide engaging compositions. Microtron is a bit more accessible than previous releases from Pozvakowski, and therefore should act to introduce the band to post-rock fans outside of their native country of Hungary.

Sleepy Eyes of Death- Streetlights for a Ribcage (Self-Released)

On Steetlights for a Ribcage, Seattle-based Sleepy Eyes of Death craft a legitimate post-rock/ shoegaze crossover album laden with synths and electronics. Although the debut album's sound ranges from the dense and cinematic to more down-tempo, restrained compositions, the band maintain an original and unique take on electronic music. Without a minute of wasted effect, Streetlights for a Ribcage represents one of the better surprises of the summer, as well as an ultimate synth-heavy soundtrack to the arrival of fall.

Wang-Wen- Seven Objects in Another Infinite Space (Fox Tail)

From the unlikely source of Dalian China comes the surprise album of the summer, and possibly the year. Melding angular post-rock moments with a noisy, textural sound akin to earlier Mono, Wang-Wen embrace the traditional crescendo-heavy epic compositions of post-rock's past and integrate melodies composed in traditional Chinese scale. On Seven Objects in Another Infinite Space, the band's third studio release, Wang-Wen prove that, even in 2007, the traditional mode of post-rock can triumph if executed correctly. Wang-Wen have produced a gem of an album, sure to introduce themselves and other Chinese post-rock artists to the rest of the world.

Photo-Journal II: The Expansion of Wire, The Nature of Dust

Upcoming Releases: September 2007

The month of September sees the release of several heavyweight albums: Things Falling Apart, The Enright House, and Electro Group are all scheduled to finally drop their highly-anticipated full-lengths. However, several promising debut artists (Holler! Wild Rose, Pooma, and Kerosene Daydream among others) are also planning releases that should greatly strengthen September's impact on the charts.

Atlantis- Carpe Omnium (Field Records)

Electro Group- Good Technology (Clairecords)

Holler! Wild Rose- Our Little Hymnal (Backlight Records)

Immovable Objects- Hoping It Stays Just Broken (Self-Released)

Kerosene Daydream- The Unbearable Weight of Water (Self-Released)

Monarch- If Children (Morphius Records)

Pooma- Persuader (Next Big Thing)

Televise- Sometimes Splendid Confusion (Drifting Falling)

The Enright House- Stalled In The Shadows (Self-Released)

The New Ghosts- Storms Are Beautiful (Protonatural Records/Self-Label)

Things Falling Apart- Disintegrating! (Self-Released)

Album of the Week: Orbit; Dear Beacon

Orbit; Dear Beacon
Flee! To the Mammoth Canopy
Myspace

On Flee! to the Mammoth Canopy, UK four-piece Orbit; Dear Beacon present the listener with a glimpse into a brooding environment full of sonic divergence and experimentation. In short, the debut release marks the culmination of several years' effort and tribulation as well as a prolonged hiatus. As is the case with many bands,however, Orbit; Dear Beacon return from the break stronger than before in regards to song-writing and overall savvy. This fact becomes immediately palpable on opening track "Etched on Trees, We're Infinite". Ambient waves of reverbed guitar are combined with soft yet billowing strings, ultimately giving way to a shallow cascade of drums and bass. Not until the second portion, or movement, if you will, does the band delve into the traditional crescendo-laden structure. The ebb and flow of the piece is driven by an unusually strong bassline that falls into the mix opposite short bursts of tremolo and flourishing guitar. At this point on the disc, the listener is increasingly aware of Orbit; Dear Beacon's excellent use of dynamics and variety; not unlike contemporary tremolo-superstars Mono or ADTMF, the contrasting moods of Flee!... are made stronger by the fact that the band crafts its more ambient passages with the same fervor and concern obviously present in the heavier moments. This trend continues in the subsequent and concluding track "Flee! to the Mammoth Canopy". While Orbit Dear; Beacon are a bit more restrained on the final piece, the band do demonstrate a slightly heavier edge, leaning more towards a metallic sound than previously. Nonetheless, the underlying theme of contrast is well-executed and leaves the listener on a positive note. Overall, Orbit; Dear Beacon have released a solid debut, introducing themselves into a music scene desperate for individuality and new ideas. If this release is any indication, the band may be poised to become a future bright spot in instrumental rock.

The track "Flee! to the Mammoth Canopy (Part 2) " has been added to the Neosurrealist Playlist. Scroll down to check it out.

Upcoming Releases: Dreamend, The Autumns

Unofficially, the month of October marks the official release date of LA's shoegaze/dream-pop quintet The Autumns. According to various sources, the band's fourth full-length album, "Fake Noise from a Box of Toys" will be released on October 10th by Bella Union. While audio samples have yet to surface, the tracklist and artwork have been set:

1. Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers (0:51)
2. Boys (2:44)
3. Clem (3:43)
4. Midnight Knock (2:18)
5. Killer in Drag (4:54)
6. Night Music (4:45)
7. Only Young (3:39)
8. Glass Jaw (3:00)
9. Uncle Sim (4:18)
10. Beautiful Boot (2:30)
11. Adelaide (4:25)
12. Oh My Heart (6:07)

Additionally, while no track-list or release date have been organized for the upcoming release of "The Long-Forgotten Friend" from post-rock/shoegaze veterans Dreamend, an mp3 sample has been circulating the internet recently. Listen to the track, titled "Are You Waking", in the new Neosurrealist Playlist mp3 player.

Notable Releases I

This post represents the first of what will hopefully become a regular or semi-regular update. In lieu of the monthly music-related series, Neosurrealist will now offer segregated updates focusing specifically on charts, weekly reviews, and recent album releases/discoveries. The following list is comprised of albums discovered/released during May 2007, primarily focusing on shoegaze, post-rock, and ambient-influenced releases.


A Genuine Freakshow- 0.008%

Post-rock, Shoegaze
Self-Released, April 2007
3 Tracks, 19 mins.
*CI Rating: 5/10

Myspace


A Hundred Times Beloved- Antarctic Sunrise

Shoegaze, Electronic
Alison Records, March 2007
9 Tracks, 36 mins.
CIR: 4/10

Myspace


And So I Watch You From Afar- This Is Our Machine...

Post-rock
Self-released, March 2007
5 Tracks, 26 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Angelic Process, The- Weighing Souls with Sand

Post-metal, Shoegaze, Drone
Profound Lore Records, May 2007
10 Tracks, 47 mins.
CIR: 6.5/10

Myspace


Aristeia- You Give Me Strength, You Give Me Patience!

Post-rock
Self-released, April 2007 (MP3)
8 Tracks, 47 mins.
CIR: 7/10

Myspace


Broaddaylight- The Bell Jar

Shoegaze
Self-Released, December 2006/January 2007
5 Tracks, 25 mins.
CIR: 4.5/10

Myspace


Bury the Sound- Autumn Magnets

Post-rock, Progressive
Hidden Shoal Recordings, June 2007
3 Tracks, 23 mins.
CIR: 4/10

Myspace


California Stories Uncovered- California Stories Uncovered

Post-rock
Self-released, April 2007
4 Tracks, 23 mins.
CIR: 6.5/10

Myspace


Coaltar of the Deepers- Tortoise EP

Shoegaze, Metal
KNIR, May 2007
4 Tracks, 20 mins.
CIR: 3.5/10

Myspace


Depreciation Guild, The- Nautilus

Shoegaze, 8-bit
8 Bit Peoples, April 2007
3 Tracks, 13 mins.
CIR: 3/10

Myspace


Echodrone- Echodrone EP

Shoegaze
Isomer Records, April 2007
4 Tracks, 29 mins.
CIR: 6/10

Myspace


Epic45- May Your Heart Be the Map

Ambient, Shoegaze
Make Mine Music, June 2007
13 Tracks, 50 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Foxtail Somersault- Fathom

Shoegaze, Dream-pop
Self-Released, March 2007
5 Tracks, 22 mins.
CIR: 6/10

Myspace


Frail by Design- Frail by Design

Post-rock
Self-released, April 2007
4 Tracks, 22 mins.
CIR: 4/10

Myspace


Grouper- Cover the Windows and the Walls

Ambient, Shoegaze
Root Strata, April 2007
7 Tracks, 37 mins.
CIR: 7/10

Myspace


Hearts of Black Science- The Ghost You Left Behind

Electronic, Pop, Shoegaze
Club AC30, April 2007
11 Tracks, 50 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Joy Wants Eternity- You Who Pretend to Sleep

Post-rock, Shoegaze
Beep Repaired, May 2007
8 Tracks, 38 mins.
CIR: 9/10

Myspace


Keser- Esoteric Escape

Electronic, Post-rock, Shoegaze
Alex Tronic Records, April 2007 (CD-R)
12 Tracks, 60 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Kite Operations- Heart Attacks, Back to Back...

Shoegaze, Progressive
KOA, March 2007
9 Tracks, 48 mins.
CIR: 4.5/10

Myspace


Le Chat Blanc Orchestra- Theories Sur La Danse

Ambient
Thisquietarmy Records, May 2007
5 Tracks, 34 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Maps- We Can Create

Electronic, Shoegaze
Mute Records, May 2007
11 Tracks, 53 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Mixtapes & Cellmates- S/T

Electronic, Shoegaze, Pop
Nomethod Records, March 2007
10 Tracks, 38 mins.
CIR: 4.5/10

Myspace


Orbit; Dear Beacon- Flee! To the Mammoth Canopy

Post-rock
Wooden Idea Productions, May 2007
4 Tracks, 32 mins.
CIR: 5.5/10

Myspace


Portrait of a Drowned Man- Portrait of a Drowned Man

Post-rock
Automaton Records, June 2007
6 Tracks, 20 mins.
CIR: 6/10

Myspace



Rumskib- Rumskib

Shoegaze, Dream-pop
Darla Records, May 2007
12 Tracks, 45 mins.
CIR: 4/10

Myspace


Saturna- Some Delicious Enemy

Shoegaze, Psychedelic
Nexus Underground, June 2007
10 Tracks, 44 mins.
CIR: 5.5/10

Myspace


Shadow Project, The- A Beauty to Fight For

Post-rock, Electronic, Progressive
NR One Records, June 2007
10 Tracks, 57 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Tears Run Rings- A Question and an Answer

Shoegaze, Dream-pop
Disaster Club Records, April 2007
4 Tracks, 22 mins.
CIR: 6/10

Myspace


Temjiin- Diamond Scattered Jet Black Curtain

Ambient, Electronic
9.12 Records, May 2007
5 Tracks, 27 mins.
CIR: 4.5/10

Myspace


Thrushes- Sun Come Undone

Shoegaze, Post-punk
Birdnote Records, March 2007
11 Tracks, 41 mins.
CIR: 9/10

Myspace


Union Trade, The- Now the Swell

Shoegaze, Post-rock
Tricycle Records, February 2007
4 Tracks, 26 mins.
CIR: 5/10

Myspace


Veil Veil Vanish- Into a New Mausoleum

Shoegaze, Post-punk
Self-released, April 2007
6 Tracks, 26 mins.
CIR: 5.5/10

Myspace